Reconditioning of my new/used TSX (Ongoning)

[MDetail]

EDIT**Alot of this is reposted from another board that I post on that is not detail based, so excuse me if I miss something, and I sound like I am talking to people that don't know anything about detailing.

Alright so earlier this month I traded in my Honda Fit (which was one payment from being owned) for a 2006 TSX (Alabaster Silver). I do miss the Fit, but the TSX is nice. There were outside factors for the trade in as well. Even 2 weeks later I am still getting used to the amenities of a "luxury car."

I don't know that I can really handle driving a stock car like I had for the past 3ish years. Alot of this thread is going to be reconditioning a used car back to that "off the lot" look. But of course I will be getting some aftermarket items here and there, for now my main focus is my DA.

I think this is after driving it for 1 mile.
http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/230350_1699919782556_1374767736_31446361_4421315_n .jpg

It had these crappy rubber fender protectors.
http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/4884/img7580i.jpg

It also had tint (dealer removed the front tint). The tint looked kinda blueish purple but you can't tell in the pic. It was even hard to see in some of the daylight.
Insert shitty FB quality pic here
http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/222553_1701001929609_1374767736_31447345_4910476_n .jpg

Removed the rubber fender pieces. I would have gone crazy if the tint didn't match perfectly front to back so I had the car fully re-tinted.
http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/9333/img7578h.jpg

Just a quicky of the interior
http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/7932/img7559xg.jpg

Did a little interior cleaning. Just gave the mats a quick clean up (might not show up too well in the pics but there was an improvement)
http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/7156/img7574e.jpg

after
http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/5228/img7575w.jpg

Ordered a couple things right off the bat. One of the items pictured below, the other is a brand new set of OEM mats. I learned my lesson with the DA, and the mats no longer being available.
http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/2994/img7572h.jpg

Because I don't want to constantly be cleaning the mats.
http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/1365/img7576v.jpg

Yuck
http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/3362/img7564e.jpg

It gets worse.
http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/693/img7570u.jpg

Old vs New
http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/6899/img7566.jpg

OEM goodness
http://img585.imageshack.us/img585/8457/img7567qv.jpg

ahh much better
http://img802.imageshack.us/img802/1950/img7569.jpg

Still have more stuff to show just haven't taken the pics yet. Be back soon, in the meantime :beer:

[MDetail]

Made a detailing purchase this past week. Wanted to try out the surbuff pads, needed some 4" small pads as well, and since I've never had leather in any of my cars before, I picked up some leather treatment.
http://img860.imageshack.us/img860/5738/img7584j.jpg

Keep all of your microfiber towels separated. Keep them in an enclosed area. Separate your paint towels from your non-paint towels. When you wash your towels, do not wash non-paint towels with paint towels.
Here I have:
Top left: Hidden painted area microfiber towels
Top middle: Older drying towels
Top right: Waxing Applicators
Middle: Engine Bay / Wheel Well / Interior microfiber towels. (I only use the ones on the left side, then wash. I have bad OCD)
Bottom left: Wax removal microfiber towels
Bottom middle: New drying microfiber towels
Bottom right: Quick detailing microfiber towels
http://img838.imageshack.us/img838/6038/img7593x.jpg

Car needed a little wash
http://img847.imageshack.us/img847/3682/img7587.jpg

Went with rinseless wash. If this car had already been polished, I would have not done this rinseless wash because it was a little too dirty for that. But I have yet to polish the car, so in order to save time this is what was done. Ended up forgetting a full after picture.
http://img803.imageshack.us/img803/9060/img7591.jpg

Wheels were dirty even from the dealer, well dirty imo.
http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/9091/img7598k.jpg

Wheel wells.
http://img546.imageshack.us/img546/1520/img7602i.jpg

Removed the wheels to give it a full and thorough cleaning.
http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/5862/img7625c.jpg

Wheels
http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/4157/img7621v.jpg

Peak at the DA and these disgusting things.
http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/5944/img7623r.jpg

Pulled off the mud guard to clean behind it.
http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/9159/img7626l.jpg

Cleaned
http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/2857/img7628w.jpg

Mud guards treated
http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/461/img7627d.jpg

and re-installed
http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/4466/img7629g.jpg

Didn't get all the way finished but it looks alot better
http://img831.imageshack.us/img831/5010/img7632m.jpg

I can't believe I forgot to get a picture of the back of the wheels after, but I still have to pull them off again next week so I can clay and wax the wheels. Here is all of it put back together.
http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/6607/img7639b.jpg

Last week I took the wiper arms off, polished and sealed them. Should have had before pics, but I was annoyed with all of the waterspots on them and was too lazy to get the pics.
http://img607.imageshack.us/img607/354/img7620.jpg

I still have alot of stuff to get to. I am sure everything that came off today will be coming off again shortly to get fully cleaned. Like the mud flaps I will have to take off so that I can polish the full fender.

[MDetail]

The car came with 2 keys and one alarm fob. After having my fit, which uses the combined remote/key, I couldn't understand why the TSX would use a separate remote and key. I found the switchblade key, purchased that, and now much happier. I am sure you all understand my OCD by now, so you could also understand I try to keep clutter to a minimum.
http://img849.imageshack.us/img849/7678/img7649r.jpg

So I previously clayed and polished the hood. And to make it so I don't get burned out, I plan to clay and polish 1-2 panels every couple of days. Clay after the fender.
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/8650/img7640t.jpg

the clay removed all of the residue that was left from those fender protectors.
http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/3172/img7659t.jpg

side not done
http://img847.imageshack.us/img847/8288/img7658y.jpg

side done
http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/8493/img7641g.jpg

Then on to polishing. Here is the clarity before polish
http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/4682/img7646e.jpg

After polish (It is hard to see defects, or much improvement in gray/silver colored cars)
http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/9730/img7645na.jpg

I noticed the hood didn't quite match up to the fender, so I just adjusted the hood bump stop.
http://img709.imageshack.us/img709/7241/img7650y.jpg

and presto, fixo!
http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/7418/img7651sj.jpg

Took the Klima Cleaner, and cleaned out the vent system.
http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/5493/img7662d.jpg

Still had a little time left, and I really got tired of seeing a bunch of nicks int he paint, and thinking it was dirt. I might have gone a little overboard :)
http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/3527/img7665x.jpg

http://img857.imageshack.us/img857/7645/img7663d.jpg

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/3558/img7666ds.jpg

Still not done with the touch up. For the larger nicks I will put a second coat. Then sand the hood, check to make sure I got most of what I wanted. Re-touch anything that still needs to be filled again. Sand one last time, and then polish.

[MDetail]

Nothing too big.

Got a box from the dealer. (actually a second box inside this one.)
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/6218/img7667bp.jpg

Before.
http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/269/img7669l.jpg

After. Really want to be able to just throw things in the back of the car like I used to with my fit.
http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/2218/img7671gs.jpg

[Finemess]

Looks great. Those new cabin air filters are a blessing.

[MDetail]

Alright so on with more updates. You can expect more updates to come during the weekdays rather than weekends, since the weekends are the heart of my work week. I apologize in advanced for the white balance mis-match. The camera was having a real hard time with the white balance, and I am too lazy to adjust all the images.

Decided to tackle the roof area today. Let me tell you, I love cleaning the car, but too much in one sitting can be way overwhelming. To any of you that feel that same way, I suggest planing to take care of 1-2 panels every couple days.

Here is the before reflection of
http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/5222/img8109d.jpg


I cleaned the roof off, then started claying.
http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/1043/img8110h.jpg

Harder to see but there are a few specs there.
http://img861.imageshack.us/img861/3198/img8111f.jpg

Sadly enough this is only 1/4 of the roof.
http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/9691/img8113f.jpg

After polish (before wax)
http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/4899/img8116.jpg

I noticed the under portion of the sunroof was a bit dirty.
http://img861.imageshack.us/img861/8511/img8114.jpg

The rubber seals on the sunroof needed some love as well.
http://img860.imageshack.us/img860/1210/img8121.jpg

http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/1024/img8118u.jpg

Before, you notice some build-up on the rubber seal
http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/2808/img8123iq.jpg

Removed
http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/1748/img8122t.jpg

Heres where that gunk went.
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/2079/img8125s.jpg

Treated the rubber seals.
http://img861.imageshack.us/img861/4438/img8126d.jpg

After all of that was treated, I saw there were a few hard water spots on the moonroof, which is weird since the rest of the glass is spotless.
http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/8429/img8128w.jpg

Cleaned the glass up top
http://img845.imageshack.us/img845/594/img8132o.jpg

Then sealed.
http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/3509/img8133b.jpg

this picture is just before I started working on the hard waterspots.
http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/2350/img7679h.jpg

[MDetail]

Just did a little cleaning, knocked out the passenger fender and passenger front door. Pictures are going to look pretty much the same as the other side I did.

Most of the bad scratches are under the door handles which is a pretty common thing. Maybe I should make microfiber mitts for people so they don't scratch that area.
http://img828.imageshack.us/img828/567/img7611w.jpg

Those scratches are easily taken care of.
http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/7214/img8143e.jpg

Noticed the underside of the skirts were a little bit dirty for my taste. Sorry for the poor pictures here.
http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/605/img8150c.jpg

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/9397/img8151k.jpg

Embarrassed to say, but after a little wash, clay, wax action.
http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/337/img8141c.jpg

Here are the comparison pictures from yesterday since I didn't get a good shot after I took care of the hard water. It's not 100% gone, but it is greatly improved.

before
http://img854.imageshack.us/img854/6586/img8127.jpg

I missed this spot, but still the rest are pretty hard to see
http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/5357/img8148f.jpg

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/655/img8149m.jpg

I cleaned the passenger front mud flap. Used the same products as before. Didn't get a chance to clean the wheel well area so it might look kind of funny, clean mud flap, dirty everything else.
http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/5724/img8146a.jpg

Everyone have a safe extended weekend :xyxthumbs:
But for me it's the start of my work week :mad:

[MDetail]

A little something arrived today
http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/1897/img7714c.jpg

Tried to get a better shot of the moonroof glass
http://img821.imageshack.us/img821/7424/img7692u.jpg

Started working on the passenger rear wheel/wheel well. Man the rears are so much easier to clean up.

wheel well before
http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/3106/img7698e.jpg

wheel well after
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/308/img7706r.jpg

http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/5773/img7710q.jpg

Wheel face before
http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/7838/img7695e.jpg

wheel face after
http://img841.imageshack.us/img841/9269/img7701r.jpg

wheel barrel before
http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/1370/img7696j.jpg

wheel barrel after
http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/1098/img7703w.jpg

http://img541.imageshack.us/img541/585/img7704c.jpg

What it looked like when I started.
http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/4672/img7694kc.jpg

Everything put back together, and mudflap cleaned/treated
http://img863.imageshack.us/img863/6926/img7712r.jpg

http://img830.imageshack.us/img830/589/img7713ol.jpg

[Sunshyne]

wow man, really nice work. I had to laugh at the cabin filter, I replaced mine yesterday and it was GROSS! Had leaves in it lol

[ride5150]

where did you get that spray bottle carrier/holder?

very nice job btw!

[MDetail]

where did you get that spray bottle carrier/holder?


I think it was from walmart. Just happened to see it, knew it would work perfect.

[kingofsorrow]

impressive job and great results. that's probably my favorite out of all the acura's.

[newbdetailer]

Very nice work and alot of attention to detail. Awsome towel arrangement you have there.
Now all you need is some new rear tires to match the fronts :)

[LegacyGT]

Michael - Nice camera, how are you liking the 7D ?

Also, great thread, thanks for all the updates.

[MDetail]

Very nice work and alot of attention to detail. Awsome towel arrangement you have there.
Now all you need is some new rear tires to match the fronts :)
Or some new fronts to match the rears :) I don't know why, but that's how it was purchased.


Michael - Nice camera, how are you liking the 7D ?


7D is great, some were taken with the 7D some with the mark iii just incase you look up the exif some a different photo.